Repertoire Suggestions for Independence of Spirit

I'm working with a chorus that does themed programs. For the Spring of 2015, I am collecting pieces about exercising an Independence of Spirit - Personally, Spiritually, Socially, et al.

I'm looking for suggestions - I've got a good 36-40 voice amateur choir (think college undergrad level) who prefers both piano accompanied and unaccompanied pieces. For some seasons we do hire small instrumental ensembles (considering a woodwind quintet for this one... though, that's still way up in the air).

Dont know a specific choral work, but recommend the concept of Terry Riley's "In C"- wherin any number -generally from sub groups of 5- of 53 variations are instrumentally played- but on the individual initiative of the participants. A great richness /diversity of sound is created, See no reason why this cannot be arranged vocally.

BTW: The Billings work you're looking for should be in the Complete Works (5 or 6 volumes; if you're anywhere near a large university library that has graduate degrees in music, they should have it). But be aware that Independence will be the name of his tune; the odds are excellent that the text will be that of a hymn and will have nothing to do with the theme of your concert.

Vaughan Williams: Six Choral Songs (To be Sung in Time of War)
(Shelley). For unison voices with pianoforte or orchestra. A Song of Courage; A Song of Liberty; A Song of Healing; A Song of Victory; A Song of Pity; A Song of the New Age.

These are unison chorus (with piano or orchestra) and can be very moving.

I was hoping to find a youtube performance, but couldn't, but I do have a CD performance from where he won the Ithaca College School of Music's Choral Composition Festival a few yrs ago.

I'll throw in a suggestion of my own "City of the Heart" for SATB and piano. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRdB_OF9DrM is a performance by Horsehead High School Concert Choir. The music is available through many on-line distributors - JWPepper - Sheet Music Plus or the publisher > Lighthousemusicpublications.com

An Open World
There is a certain madness born of sailing
From port to distant port the world around.
There is a certain way it has, unveiling
Unused chambers of the mind so that the sound
Of many different voices can be heard.
- The range of human thoughts and views,
From which with joy can be inferred,
An open world, and paths to choose.